Page 43 of Best of Me

“Of course, Cricket. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” He peppers soft kisses all over my body before reaching my lips. “Let’s rinse off, and then if you’re up for it, we can watch a little TV.” I start to agree but a huge yawn eclipses my words. “Or we can sleep. I’m good with either.”

chapter twenty-six

Mallory

Ever since Duke and I made things official a week ago, I’ve been floating by on cloud nine. I feel calm and settled, so much so that even when one of my children has a meltdown the size of Texas, my feathers remained unruffled.

To make things even better, Jenny invited me to join her and Natalie for a nail day—something I haven’t done at all since moving here, but used to do monthly with Ash.

For as much as I was dreading moving here, it’s safe to say things are looking up. I could easily see myself calling Bay Ridge my home. And I haven’t run into my parents at all. I guess those fifteen minutes between here and Orchard Grove make a world of difference. I know I’ll have to face her one day, if only for my own healing, but with any luck, that day won’t be anytime soon.

I arrive at the nail salon a few minutes early and head in to pick my color. Back in Cottonwood, I always either did a fun design—in Knight U’s colors during college—or something the kids in my classroom would find fun. Today though, I’m doing this for me; I’m picking a color I like, simply because it makes me smile.

By the time Jenny and Natalie stroll in, I’ve narrowed it down to two choices; a shimmery teal or a pearlescent opal color. “Hey, girl,” Jenny says, hugging me hello. “Hopefully we didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

“I was early,” I say, a little embarrassed by my eagerness.

“Which color?” Natalie asks, nodding toward the two glass bottles clutched in my hands.

“I don’t know. I love them both for different reasons; the teal because it’s my favorite color and I like the shimmer—the kids in my class will, too. I’m not really sure why I like the other so much, but…oh my God, I am really overthinking this!”

The three of us dissolve into giggles.

“Let me see them,” Jenny says, extending both of her hands my way, palms up.

I hand over both bottles and she shakes them both, inspecting the colors. “This one kind of looks like an opal. Did you know opal is considered a precious gemstone by several cultures? Like, in Roman times it was carried as a good luck talisman and believed to bring its owner good fortune. And let’s be real, we can all always use a little good fortune.”

When Natalie and I both just gawk at her, Jenny simply shrugs. “What? I watched a documentary on it the other day.”

“Why don’t you get both?” Natalie asks. “One on your nails and one on your toes.”

“Oh, good plan. I see where Tatum gets her smarts from.”

Natalie preens. “Can I get a recording of you saying that? You know, to play for Alden…nightly.”

Both women select their colors, and we claim three chairs side-by-side, each of us sighing in delight as we sink our feet into the hot, bubbling water.

As the three of us chat about mindless topics, moving from one to the next with ease, I can’t help but revel in the sense of contentment seeping into my bones. I spent so much time convincing myself that I was better off alone that I didn’t truly realize what I was missing until Ashley and these two ladies beside me came along.

“Oh, hey, back to the opal, how are things with Duke?”

“Huh? What? What does my nail color have to do with him?”

Jenny smiles a small private grin as if she knows something we don’t and finds it humorous. “Opal is the birthstone for October. Duke was born in October. Ergo, did the two of you ever work things out?”

My cheeks flame. While Duke and I are definitely together, we haven’t really discussed whether or not we’re telling people about us. Or maybe I’m just making a mountain out of a molehill. Either way, I don’t want to inadvertently spill the beans—especially not without talking to him first.

“Oh, um. Well. What do you mean?”

Jenny looks at me as though I’m plumb crazy. “Y’all were already like a grease fire and then at mine and Nate’s engagement party…girl. It was like someone poured water trying to put y’all out.”

Natalie smirks. “And everyone knows what happens when you throw water on a grease fire.”

I try to bury my head in my hands, but the little gel-filled baggies the nail tech put on them impedes my movement.Lovely. Did I say I love manicures? I lied. I hate them.

“Well? C’mon, girl. Talk.”

I try to act cool and unaffected. “We’re fine.”

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